Agency Employees Recognized

Holen Named Agency Employee of the Year
Ben Holen, aquatic nuisance species coordinator, Jamestown, received the agency’s Director’s Award for professional excellence at the department’s annual staff meeting in December.

Since stepping into the role of ANS coordinator, Holen has demonstrated exceptional leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to protecting North Dakota’s aquatic resources, said Jeb Williams, Game and Fish Department director.

“What truly sets Ben apart is his leadership style. In a program that is often thankless and rarely acknowledged, he maintains an unwaveringly positive attitude,” Williams said. “This positivity is reflected in his team and in the army of temporary staff who feel supported, informed, and valued under his guidance. Ben has become the department’s go-to source for all things ANS, providing clarity, insight, and stability in a volatile and high-stakes program.”


Johnson Earns Two Awards 
Drew Johnson, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden in Finley, is the state’s 2025 Wildlife Officer of the Year. Johnson was honored by Shikar-Safari Club International, a private conservation organization that annually recognizes wildlife officers in each state.

Scott Winkelman, department chief warden, said Johnson started at the newly created post in Finley in 2019 and his patrol district includes Griggs, Steele and Traill counties.

“Drew spends a great deal of his time patrolling in and around his patrol district by vehicle, boat, snowmobile and ATV. His value to the enforcement division is felt year-round as he patrols his district with enthusiasm for game law enforcement,” Winkelman said. “Warden Johnson’s work ethic and can-do attitude are exemplified in his commitment to becoming more skilled and efficient with each passing year and is a very deserving recipient of this award.” 

Johnson was also named North Dakota’s Boating Officer of the Year for 2025.
“Drew’s prior work experience on Devils Lake seasoned him into a more successful boat and water safety officer as he had worked extensively on Devils Lake, one of North Dakota’s busiest natural lakes,” Winkelman said. Warden Johnson is dedicated to boat safety enforcement of both recreational boaters and anglers alike.”


Department Awards
Jeb Williams, North Dakota Game and Fish Department director, recently honored employees with performance-based awards. The following special recognition awards were presented during the department’s staff meeting in December.

Blake Riewer, enforcement division investigator, Grand Forks, was recognized for consistently providing assistance on complex investigations and handling a significant amount of the behind-the-scenes technical work that is essential in today’s digital investigative environment.

Brian Frohlich, fisheries biological technician, Riverdale, was recognized for stepping in when the Riverdale office was understaffed to oversee all fall sampling for the fisheries district. Frohlich not only met but exceeded expectations by ensuring that sampling was conducted on every district lake that required survey work.

Shane Wegner, data scientist, Colin Penner, private land biologist/GIS specialist, and Kevin Kading, private land section leader, all Bismarck, were recognized for reducing the extensive amount of administrative work required in delivering private land programs in North Dakota. The private land technical teams worked together to optimize workflows by, for example, integrating electronic signatures for contracts and management plans.

Amanda Anstrom, assistant licensing manager, Bismarck, was recognized for her exceptional leadership, dedication and service by skillfully leading the licensing staff, overseeing complex front-end operations including licensing, lotteries and registrations.
Jeff Long, education coordinator, Brian Schaffer, hunter education coordinator, and Amber Schroeter, administrative assistant, all Bismarck, were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the department’s education section by consistently executing large, complex events essential to the agency, such as NASP tournaments, volunteer banquet and volunteer training.


Sperling Earns Warden Award
Shawn Sperling, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district warden in Minot, was named the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wildlife Officer of the Year for 2025.

“Warden Sperling’s district contains portions of Ward, Renville and McHenry counties. This area of the state historically boasts a strong population of wild turkeys. Shawn has a passion for turkeys both professionally and personally, as he is an avid turkey hunter himself. Shawn diligently patrols for turkey hunting activity and addresses violations accordingly,” Turkey Federation officials said. “He is also a skilled investigator and has used his talents to make strong cases involving illegally taken turkeys. Warden Sperling’s dedication to the wildlife resources in his district, as well as his district’s constituents, make him a great fit for this award.”